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Sketches of Human Nature ; or Hints, been any length of time members of

chiefly relating to the duties and dif- a Christian church, that have not had ficulties that occur in the intercourse cause to lament the want of concord of Christians with one another, and and harmony in the body, arising with the world. BY WILLIAM from a deficiency of love, the remainINNES, Minister of the Gospel. der of corruption in the hearts of 2nd edition, considerably enlarged. their brethren, the imprudent cone Edinburgh. Oliphant and Co. and duct of some, and the imperfections Hamilton, London, 1817. about 300 of all. It is this melancholy state of pages 12mo. 4s. 6d. boards.

things that lays a foundation for the THE former edition of this book was numerous exhortations with which published eight or nine years ago, the New Testament abounds, to“ forand it has been for some time out of bear one another in love" to have print. 'Tis a pity this should ever “ compassion one of another"—to have been the case; for a work calo“ love as brethren"-to“ put on culated to be more extensively useful bowels of mercies, kindness, humwe know not where else to look for. bleness of mind, meekness, and long. Our opinions, indeed, upon a few suffering,” &c. &c. There is, cerpoints of minor importance, do not tainly, very much propriety in the exactly quadrate with those of Mr. | following remarks which we extract Innes; but that is no reason with us from the introduction to this work. why we should with-hold from his “ I recollect.” says Mr. Iones, “when performance the commendation to conversing some time ago with a friend, which it is fairly entitled. The ob- on the effects of mutual watchfulness, ject of it is not to teach the doctrines and of the observance of scriptural disciof Christianity; for it addresses itself | pline, he remarked : 'One thing, at least, to those who are supposed to be al. ( appears very obvious, that, where these ready instructed in the first principles

are attended to in churches, Christians

will find the corruption that is in duman of the oracles of God, and who con

nature 'made much more manifest thap in sequently are become members of a

other situations. Now, it has been with Christian church: and it sels before me a question, Is this a recommendation them the evils they should avoid, and of such churches? These occurrences, it the rule they should follow if they must be allowed, in the history of indiviwould promote their own edification, duals, which bring the evil that exists in the glory of Christ, and the peace their hearts to light, often form an imand prosperity of his kingdom in the portant source of improvement, as they world. And now let us ask, “ Where tend to inspire humility and watchfulness: is the Christian to be found, who can

may not this, then, be the way in which say that these things do not concern

the great Head of the church designed him?" The trath is, it is a practical city, should promote the improvement of

that Christians, in their associated capatreatise on the subject of church-fel- one another?"- Whatever has been the lowship-evidently the result of much issue of this inquiry, in the case of the painful experience in the ministry of individual referred to, the fact on which it the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is founded is unquestionable. Where comes home to every Christian's busi- | Christians acknowledge no authority, and ness and bosom.

have no bond of union but the word of The work is divided into four Sec

God, restraints of a merely external kind tions of which the following are the in the discipline which the scriptures re

| are in a great measure remored; and as, titles. SECT. I. Of the discipline of quire to be observed in a Christian church, a Church, offences, &c. SECT. II. many things sufficiently disagreeable to Of the pernicious effects of Tale-bear- human nature must inevitably occur, the ing, rash judgment, &c. SECT. III. observance of that discipline certainly Respecting Pastors and Teachers. | does tend to bring to light much secret SECT. IV. Remarks on Miscellaneous depravity, which, in less trying situations, Subjects. These four Sections are might never bave been discovered. subdivided into fifty-six short Essays It is a lamentable fact, that among with a Conclusion and an Appendix. I the great body of Dissenters through

There are few persons who have I out England, the state of things supa

posed or implied in the preceding | mittee for the management of extract, is at least sufficiently under-1 the Wesleyan Methodist Missions. stood, to determine them to have as London. Blans hard; Butterworth little to do with discipline as possible! and Son; and Baynes. Price 3 s. 6d. Members of the same church may 8vo. pp. 163. 1817. statedly come together for years in The abolition of the traffic in human succession to worship God without beings, which has swept from the ever exchanging a word with one ocean every ship bearing the British another--they may have causes of flag, and set an example to every dissatisfaction and grounds of offence other nation of the triumph of humatowards each other, existing for years, nity and justice over the sordid prinwithout a single effort being made to ciples of gain, is an achievement remove them and if the parties which no benevolent mind can conthemselves can be content to let mat-template with unconcern. Until that ters hang over, in this state, they may monstrous engine of oppression and live and die at enmity with each other. cruelty was once fairly destroyed, the This is shocking to reflect upon-but concentrated energies of all the friends it is a true picture of the generality of of truth and freedom were necessarily the present race of churches. The required to crush the hydra, and rescue great thing with most of the pastors our fellow creatures from his savage is, to keep peace and quietness-but claws. But the victory was won; the very means by which they seek and it is in itself of sufficient conseto accomplish it, namely, by smother. quence to reflect a lustre on the age ing the einbers of disaffection, even-' | in which we live. Africa was theretually ruins the church. Christ in his by relieved, and if her children in the great wisdom and love, hath institut- West Indies, were, during the coned discipline to be observed among fict, in a considerable degree forthe members, for the purpose of gotten, some apology might possibly keeping clear the channels of bro- be offered for the sin of omission, therly love; and it is at the peril of The principle of Christian benevoany body of Christians, how they neg- lence, however, which of late years lect it. Mr. Innes understands this has been so powerfully called into subject well-few men understand it action, rendered it highly improbable better; and his book is replete with that such a vast scene as that which the most excellent advice to brethren the West India Islands presented to associated together in the profession view, of human wretchedness and the of the gospel, on this important sub-want of moral cultivation, should be ject. No member of a Christian church long overlooked. The bare reflection, ought to be without it.

that there existed considerably more Were it necessary to justify the than half a million of blacks and opinion which we have given of the people of colour, subjects of the Bria work before us, by quotations from it, tish empire, separated from us indeed the task would be easily executed; by a little water, who are still held but our limits do not admit of it. as slaves in the British Colonies; who Should what we have said, induce live and die, not only without perany of our readers to procure the sonal liberty and the enjoyment of volume, and to make themselves many important civil rights, for masters of the salutary counsel it which, in truth, they are not in every contains, they will have inuch more case prepared, but without any relireason to thank us for advising them gious instruction, except such as is. to it, than the author will.

offered by voluntary charity; without education of the lowest kind; with..

out any attempt to civilize or moralize. 4 Defence of the Wesleyan Methodist

them; without even the forms of · Missions in the West Indies : includ marriage, and of course, without

ing a refutation of the charges in Mr. domestic relations; being left to vegeMarryat's “ Thoughts on the Aboli- tate and die on the soil, without ever tion of the Slave Trade, &c.” and in feeling the powers of immortal man, other Publications; with facts and ignorant of themselves, of the God Anècdotes illustrative of the moral who made them, and of the end of state of the Slaves, and of the operation their being--all this is surely an afe of Missions. BY RICHARD WATSON, fecting consideration. “ Such,” says One of the Secretaries to the Com- | Mr. Watson, s is, however, the con

dition, at this moment, of by far the portion of the globe. The Wesleyan greater part of the slave population of Missionaries have been singled out our colonies; and in this condition by the Anti-mission party as the have lived and died the successive special object of attack-and a new millions, who, from the commence- periodical publication under the title ment of the slave trade have passed of " THE QUARTERLY COLONIAL through the life of toil and injury JOURNAL," has been the vehicle of which our practice, if not our laws the grossest misrepresentation and had assigned them, to depose before most slanderous abuse of them. Mr. the bar of Eternal Justice, the gene Marryat, too, in his “ Thoughts on ral neglect of a Christian people to the Abolition of the Slave Trade" has wards the promoting in any efficient powerfully aided in the same bad degree, their moral happiness.” cause. But the Missionaries have

found a most able advocate in Mr. “ The West India islands have not, Watson, “ One of the Secretaries to however, been wholly neglected. If no the Committee for the management efficient legislative provision has been of the Wesleyan Methodist Missions" adopted for the Christianising of their slave population, it has been attempted

-a man who, whether we regard him by the spontaneous zeal of several Chris. | as a preacher or a writer, is deservedtian societies, and with a success, which. I ly entitled to rank in the very lorethough far from rendering larger exer- / most class of either. We have tions unnecessary, will ever be contemp- listened with delight to his eloquence lated by Christians of every religious from the pulpit, and have been not persuasion with the highest satisfaction. much less charmed with the pamThe Society founded by Bishop Porteus, I phlet now before us. It is indeed & has two missionaries, employed in this

triumphant “ Defence" of his Miswork. The Moravians commenced their labours in the Danish West India Islands

sionary brethren; and should any of in 1732 :'in Jamaica, in 1754; in Antigua,

our readers have been led to adopt in 1756; and in St. Kitts, in 1775. The

prejudices against the cause which is efforts of the Wesleyan Methodists com

here defended, we beseech them to menced in Antigua' in 1760; and from read Mr. Watson's pamphlet-or if 1786, when four missionaries visited that any of their acquaintance should unIsland, they began to spread over the | happily be so circumstanced, they British colonies, in most of which they cannot do better than put it into their have raised societies, congregations, and hands. places of worship, and now employ thirty. nine missionaries. The Baptists have three missionaries in Jamaica, and the London Missionary Society have lately occupied

| The Bible Class Book; or Scripture stations in Deinerára, Berbice, and Trini. Readings for every day in the year : dad. In this work, all, who have long 1 being three hundred and sixty five exerted themselves, wave had to toil lessons, selected from the most inthrough great difficulties, and to make the structive and improving parts of the most painful sacrifices. The result of Sacred Scriptures. ‘Adapted to the their united efforts, however, is, that pro- use of schools and families. London, bably more than 200,000 negroes and Lackington and Co.; 6s. bound, people of colour enjoy, either as members of religious societies, or as hearers of the Ever since we were capable of formpreachers of different denominations, the ing a judgment on the subject, ,!! benefits of religious instruction. For this struck us that strong objections might work of patriotism and benevolence the be urged against the practice of mak, rewards which the missionaries, have in

ing the Bible indiscriminately a school many cases 'met with, have been opposi- book. And yet it is past all dispute tion and persecution abroad, and calumny | at home But their judgment is with

that there are portions of it, which the Lord, und their work with their God;"'

surpass in appropriateness, all other

books in the world. Of this descripIt can hardly excite surprise, how- tion are the historical parts of the ever affecting the consideration may Old Testament, particularly the in be, that the sordid love of money, I teresting narratives of Joseph, o should so far gain the ascendant over Moses, and of David; the whole or the principles of humanity and bene- the book of Proverbs; and the Evans volence, as to stimulate interested in- gelical history of our Saviour. dividuals to raise a clamour against gave us sensible pleasure, therefore the persons that have undertaken to meet with the work before us, um the task of enlightening this dark. I cause it appears to us to remeayan

evil of which we have frequently lessons from the epistles to the Corin. complained and supplies what has thians, he has fallen into some inhitherto been a desideratum.

accuracies which of course will be The Lessons are selected with due corrected in the next edition. The discrimination; and the titles are in first epistle, is always mentioned general appropriate ; beginning with “ Corinthians" without the numeral; The Creation---the first Sabbath-the and those lessons which have been fall of man--the death of Abel- selected from the second epistle are Noah's Ark—the Deluge the Rain- uniformly said to be taken from the bow-the confusion of tongues--the first! The volume consists of 550 call of Abraham, &c. &c. The in- pages, and at the head of each lesson comparable history of Joseph and his is prefixed a text of scripture. Upon brethren occupies twelve lessons; the the whole, we think the publication history of the Israelties, beginning certainly deserves the attention of with the birth of Moses, and termi- | teachers in general: and at a period nating with their settlement in the like the present, when unexampled promised land, makes nearly fifty. I efforts are making to distribute the The book of Proverbs upwards of Scriptures universally abroad awork, twenty. It is with propriety that the such as the one before us, so well compiler has been sparing in his use I adapted for utility, cannot fail, we of the Prophetic writings, and also think, of public patronage, and in of the Apostolic epistles. But he process of time, of being very gene, has very judiciously harmonized the rally used. life of Christ. In selecting a few

Religious and Literary Intelligence.

To the Editor of the New Evangelical In the year 1811, a respectable associ, Magazine,

ation was formed, for the purpose of ina

vestigating the actual state of the High SIR,

lands and Íslands, in regard to instruction,

and to provide the means of teaching It is now some months since I addressed them in the Gaelic their native tongue, you on the importance of universal edu- These inquiries demonstrated the necessity cation, and I am induced to request your of immediate exertion in their behalf, favourable reception of a few lines again, and the Society determined to adopt a in consequence of the great satisfaction plan, which had the sanction of expea I have experienced in reading the sixth rience in Wales, viz. the employment of Report of the Society for Gaelic Schools, Itinerant Teachers, in what are called and which I trust will be acceptable to ambulatory Schools. The result has fully your readers.

answered the expectation of the Society, The Gaelic Society, is not opposed to The people old and young, most eagerly the respectable Society long since es- | assemble together to learn, and a desire tablished in Edinburgh, for promoting is excited thereby to learn even the En, Christian knowledge in the Highlands, 1 glish language. At a small expense and and Islands, but is different in its object, by means of teachers who remain only a and its operations are principally di- few months in one place, instruction is rected to plans which have had little or | afforded to 3557 persons, of all ages from no benefit from the laudable operation of | 5 to 117, for even at this advanced age, that Society. “Much commendation is one person appeared as a learner, and undoubtedly due to the Society for pro- | actually made some proficiency, when it moting Christian knowledge in the High- pleased God to arrest his progress, by lands, &c, butit appears from experience, (dimness of sight, and soon after to remove and from facts, that by teaching the him from this world, English language alone, they have made. The Report states, the visitor of the far less progress than would have been School at Glencalyie found “A house made by teaching the Gaelic, The in- crowded with 60 Scholars of all ages,

truction thus given conveyed no ideas from the Glencalyie veteran Ivirach, now the people only read what they did not in his 117th year to, literaily speaking, Understand derstand, and felt no interest in that the infant in the cradle; for the mother of education which conveyed no of the infant his one of the Scholars, and

| such was here desire to learn, that she

&

new ideas.

dition, at this moment, of by far the portion of the globe. The Wesleyan greater part of the slave population of Missionaries have been singled out our colonies; and in this condition by the Anti-mission party as the have lived and died the successive special object of attack--and a new millions, who, from the commenče-, periodical publication under the title ment of the slave trade have passed of “ THE QUARTERLY COLONIAL through the life of toil and injury | JOURNAL," has been the vehicle of which our practice, if not our laws the grossest misrepresentation and had assigned them, to depose before most slanderous abuse of them. Mr. the bar of Eternal Justice, the gene | Marryat, too, in his “ Thoughts on ral neglect of a Christian people to-| the Abolition of the Slave Trade" has wards the promoting in any efficient powerfully aided in the same bad degree, their moral happiness." : cause. But the Missionaries have

found a most able advocate in Mr. “ The West India islands have not, Watson, “ One of the Secretaries to however, been wholly neglected. If no the Committee for the management efficient legislative provision has been adopted for the Christianising of their

1 of the Wesleyan Methodist Missions" slave population, it has been attempted

a man who, whether we regard him by the spontaneous zeal of several Chris: , as a preacher or a writer, is deservedtian societies, and with a success, which,

| ly entitled to rank in the very forethough far from 'rendering larger exer- most class of

most class of either. We have tions unnecessary, will ever be contemp- listened with delight to his eloquence lated by Christians of every religious from the pulpit, and have been not persuasion with the highest satisfaction. I much less charmed with the pamThe Society founded by Bishop Porteus, 1 phlet now before us. It is indeed a has two missionaries employed in this triumphant « Defence" of his MISwork. The Moravians commenced their sionary brethren: and should anyos labours in the Danish West India Islands in 1732:'in Jamaica, in 1754; in Antigua,

our readers have been led to adopt in 1756; and in St. Kitts, in 1775. The prejudices against the cause which is efforts of the Wesleyan Methodists com- / here defended, we beseech them to menced in Antigua in *1760; and from read Mr. Watson's pamphlet-or if 1786, when four missionaries visited that any of their acquaintance should unIsland, they began to spread over the happily be so circumstanced, they British colonies, in most of which they cannot do better than put it into the have raised societies, congregations, and hands. places of Worship, and now employ thirtynine missionaries. The Baptists have three ..., missionaries in Jamaica, and the London Missionary Society have lately occupied

The Bible Class Book ; or Scripture stations in Deinerara, Berbice, and Trini Readings for every day in the year : dad. In this work, all, who have long l being three hundred and sixty live exerted themselves, have had to toil lessons, selected from the most inthrough great difficulties, and to make the structive and improving parts of the most painful sacrifices. The result of Sacred Scriptures. Adapted to me their united efforts, however, is, that pro- ' use of schools and families. London, bably more than 200,000 negroes and Jackington and co.: 6s. bound. people of colour enjoy, either as members of religious societies, or as hearers of the Ever since we were capable of formpreachers of different denominations, the ing a judgment on the subject, it benefits of religious instruction. For this struck us that strong objections might work of patriotism and benevolence the rewards which the missionaries, have in ling the Bible indiscriminately a schoos

| be urged against the practice of mak: many cases met with, have been opposition and persecution abroad, and cafumny I that there are portions of it,

| book. And yet it is past all dispute at home. But their judgment is with the Lord, and their work with their God.?» surpass in appropriateness, all other

books in the world. Of this descrip It can hardly excite surprise, how- tion are the historical parts of the ever affecting the consideration may Old Testament, particularly the in be, that the sordid love of money, teresting narratives of Joseph, of should so far gain the ascendant over Moses, and of David; the whole the principles of humanity and bene- the book of Proverbs; and the built volence, as to stimulate interested in- gelical history of our Saviour. dividuals to raise a clamour against gave us sensible pleasure, therer the persons that have undertaken to meet with the work before usam the task of enlightening this dark. I cause it appears to us to remedy